New Asia Climate Partners set to be leading clean tech investor in the region

The clean tech sector in Asia received a boost this week as a new venture between three key players was launched with the aim of becoming the regions leading investor in low carbon projects.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), ORIX Corporation and Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. will make up the Asia Climate Partners (ACP) venture.

According to the announcement, the ACP will initially be capitalised with US$400 million and will be based in Hong Kong.

A statement from ORIX Corporation said: "Renewable energy, clean technology, natural resource efficiency, water, agriculture, forestry and other climate-friendly companies and transactions that are structured to generate market-driven, risk-adjusted returns and have a positive environmental and social impact".

Todd Freeland, Director-General of ADB's Private Sector Operations Department, said: "We believe that ACP provides an innovative platform to deploy capital into climate-related transactions across Asia that are designed to generate attractive returns. ACP will benefit from the combined strengths of Robeco as a global asset manager and ORIX and ADB, which are two of the most active and successful investors in the low-carbon sector in Asia."

He also argued that the $400 million of capitalisation meant the new organisation was being positioned to make a significant impact and will be the preeminent investor in the sector in Asia.